Istanbul to Ankara (IST–ESB) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
No flights match your filters.
No scheduled airline flights on this route — it's flown by charter / private operators (). No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
Most recently operated nonstop flights — the month shown is when each was last scheduled. Most destinations remain reachable with a connection.
No discontinued nonstop flights on record for this route.
IST–ESB is served by 2 airlines with nonstop service. Turkish Airlines and SunExpress lead the route. The flight covers 237 miles in approximately 1h 10m. Beyond nonstop, 1-stop connecting options are also available.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TK Turkish Airlines Also: AT, B6, JU, LO, MH, NH, NZ, OZ, RO, SQ, TG, TP, XY | 111 | 320, 321, 32Q, 73H, 73J, 789, 7M8 | 1h05-1h10 | – | Star Alliance | AT, B6, JU, LO, MH, NH, NZ, OZ, RO, SQ, TG, TP, XY |
| XQ SunExpress | 0 | – | – | – | – | – |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
Other ways to reach Ankara from Istanbul
| Metric | IST→ESB | SAW→ESB | TEQ→ESB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance from IST | – | 40 mi | 43 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 2 | 5 | 1 |
| Weekly flights | 438 | 201 | – |
| Flight time | 1h 10m | 1h | 1h 5m |
Travel Essentials
IST: +03 · ESB: +03
When it's 6:00 PM in Istanbul, it's 6:00 PM in Ankara.
Istanbul Metro M11 Gayrettepe–İstanbul Havalimanı line connects the airport to the broader metro network; from Gayrettepe (Mecidiyeköy/Levent area) the journey is about 35 minutes (₺60–70 with Istanbulkart). The line runs roughly 5am to midnight.Havaist express buses serve Taksim, Kadıköy, and other major hubs (₺50–80, 45–90 minutes depending on traffic). Taxis use a meter; expect ₺400–600 from Taksim or Sultanahmet. The airport is 35km northwest of the city; traffic on the O-7 motorway can be severe during peak hours.
IST–ESB Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights from IST to ESB
İstanbul Airport (IST) and Esenboğa International Airport (ESB) are connected by nonstop service from Turkish Airlines and SunExpress. With 438 weekly departures, this is a heavily served route.
IST to ESB Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from IST to ESB is about 1 hours 10 minutes gate to gate. The route covers a distance of 237 miles (381 km). There are approximately 438 weekly flights outbound and 403 return, totaling 841 flights per week in both directions.
Connecting Options and Alternatives
1-stop connecting options are also available, commonly via Adnan Menderes, Milas Bodrum and Antalya. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs. Nearby alternative airports include Pendik, Istanbul (SAW), Çorlu (TEQ) and Çanakkale (CKZ).